BRONCOS’ THIRD STRIKE
BRISBANE boss Dave Donaghy has put the players on notice and vowed to fix the Broncos’ culture after a third off-field incident in 14 days.
Brisbane’s final game of the regular season against Newcastle on September 4 had an explosive postscript when teammates Tom Flegler and Jordan Riki had a fight in a pub that left a bloodied Riki requiring stitches to a facial injury.
Then on Sunday, South Sydney-bound five-eighth Anthony Milford was locked up by police following an altercation. And now TC Robati will face court on Thursday after being charged with dangerous use of a motor vehicle.
Donaghy, who started as Broncos CEO in May, has had enough and warned Broncos players to shape up or be shipped out.
“I’m incredibly disappointed with how the last few weeks have unfolded,” Donaghy said. “If we are fair dinkum about being a world-class sporting organisation, we can’t just talk the talk, we need to walk the walk, and that’s everyone. We have reported our matters to the NRL integrity unit and the players understand how disappointed I am with what’s happened.”
The Broncos have had a leadership void over the past three years and there is a view that Brisbane’s emerging rookies can benefit from more experience at Red Hill.
The Broncos are trying to address the vacuum by signing Souths skipper Adam Reynolds, Penrith’s Origin backrower Kurt Capewell and former Titans captain Ryan James.